Newcastle manager Alan Pardew tells former player Joey Barton to move on as club threaten legal action

Alan Pardew has accused Joey Barton of trying to steal the limelight away from
Newcastle United’s impressive start to the season and urged his former
midfielder to stop trying to reopen old wounds on Tyneside.

Striking out: Joey Barton faces legal action after taking another swipe at his former club NewcastlePhoto: PA

Derek Llambias, the Newcastle United managing director, announced on Wednesday that he intended to take legal action against Barton following an interview in which the player again attacked the way Llambias and owner Mike Ashley run the club.

Still struggling to come to terms with the manner in which he was treated at St James’ Park before agreeing an £80,000-a-week deal at Queens Park Rangers after a free transfer in August, Barton has continued to take swipes at his former employers.

Pardew believes Barton should move on. “I keep asking myself why does he keep popping up,” said Pardew, who fought to keep Barton at Newcastle despite opposition from the board.

“Why is he doing it? This Twitter thing might be the answer.

“The only focus as a manager of this club is the team and it is a team that is doing exceptionally well and, unfortunately, Joey’s comments take away the positive nature of what we are doing here. It’s a bit frustrating.”

Barton’s latest claim was that he had been forced out because of a row over bonuses, although The Daily Telegraph understands he was never on the player committee that failed to reach an agreement last season.